Navy Use of Appropriated Funds for Purchase of Luggage

The Department of the Navy requested a decision on whether it may use appropriated funds to buy luggage for use by members of the Recruit Mobile Training Team who travel an excessive amount in the completion of their duties. The Navy stated that the members had been using their own personal luggage and that this luggage had sustained a lot of damage in the course of the travel. The new luggage had been procured from a Florida company, which then submitted a voucher for payment. GAO did not object to the Navy using appropriated funds to pay for the luggage under the exceptional circumstances in this case. GAO suggested that the Navy advise its contracting officers that purchases of baggage will be permitted only in highly unusual circumstances in the future. Further, the baggage is to be treated as Navy property to be used only for official business and stored at a Naval facility. Accordingly, payment of the voucher was authorized.